2014 round 1 team vs GWS

[Meg]

Longmire spent a lot of time in the video interview talking about the importance of Ryan to the team over the course of the year. Clearly was not an easy decision to leave him out for this match.

[DA_Swan]

Interesting re ROK - everyone has been talking about our depth so this is a good sign

[Ludwig]

my bet is that ROK is being given a little rest so that he is fresher for later in the season. he worked his guts out last year and looked a little buggered towards the end. but well done to cunningham!!

Agree. ROK was the most sensible one to drop this week, although I never really considered it. We are playing GWS. We don't need our absolute best team. I am really please that Horse is thinking Big Picture this year and is planning for the long haul.

It was probably the best time to try both Laidler and Cunningham. Once AJ comes back, there will be fewer chances for playing both Laidler and Rampe together (although there is a chance that Rampe will be the sub and not Cunningham). Also, Tippett will force LRT to either defence or the ressies. It's important to see what Laidler can do in a real game. In 2 weeks we begin a tough stretch in the season with 4 good teams in a row, starting with Collingwood, where we will have to deal with Cloke, Reid and White. We can rest ROK this week so he is fresh to shadow Pendles.

[lwjoyner]

They seem now on going back a couple of years with no backup ruck except LRT. It didn't work last time and will not work this time against good teams. LRT is NOT a ruckman. Obviously waiting for Tippert.

[Auntie.Gerald]

My guess is that Harry will get the short straw and wear the green jersey.......so Ryan gets a full game in ressies !

ROK will come back in against the FINALS style games ie like the Pies - ie mortal combat !

Unfortunately for Ryan we have McGlynn showing he was the best pre season trainer, has been nominated for midfield and he appears to have won the coaches over !

The sub jersey will be rotated week in week out ie BJ, Harry and even Jetts if he cant get it together on Saturday !

Shaw will be in the backs within minutes and Macca to the midfield

Laidler is just warming the spot for AJ when Alex is fully fit.........

LRT is a great option for the back up ruck and to play the swingman role when needed

[wolftone57]

Not miffed by that move. It is GWS not a top four side. The other thing is if you look closely, we have really opted for speed. Jetta, Rohan, Harry, Shaw, Benny, Hannas, Kizza, Rampe and the elusive talents of Macca, Joey, Parks, Mitchell and Birdie. This is a really good side. This is a side to take into the future and there will be more changes when Tip comes back and when the match ups require a new face. I don't think anyone is safe in this team now, if you don't perform you will be out with the dew kickers.

[Melbournehammer]

I said during the nab match against the giants that I thought rok might be done. He looked a lot like Kirky in his last year - unable to go with anyone once the ball cleared the area. There will be matches he is better suited to - strong inside mids - but I am worried about him - amazingly good player as a hff, and dependable inside mid. Will see whether this a horse for course strategy.

[Mountain Man]

Last year there was a place for Bolton in the forward line - lock the ball in and kick a few contested goals using his strength and experience. Seems that the arrival of Tippett and Franklin may need a faster type of forward support than ROK is at.

But I suspect it is a match up with the young speedy GWS midfield that is the issue this week

[Ludwig]

I said during the nab match against the giants that I thought rok might be done. He looked a lot like Kirky in his last year - unable to go with anyone once the ball cleared the area. There will be matches he is better suited to - strong inside mids - but I am worried about him - amazingly good player as a hff, and dependable inside mid. Will see whether this a horse for course strategy.

The dropoff by players like Kirk, and Kennelly was really shocking at the time, but I guess that's the way it happens. I thought ROK had a good year in 2013, but simply tired out at the end and would bounce back this year despite his age. May you are right, and the end is closer than we think. If not for injuries last year, I doubt Jude would have completed the season in the starting side.

We have so many talented inside mids that someone has to drop out to give the speedsters like Cunningham, BJ and Towers a shot. I think these guys give the team better balance that what ROK has to offer as an inside mid. Parker, Mitchell and Bird are all looking for more time inside, so someone has to go out.

[ScottH]

In from Last game last year
Rhyce Shaw
Tom Mitchell
Jeremy Laidler (New)
Sam Reid
Lance Franklin (New)
Lewis Roberts-Thomson

Out
Ryan O'Keefe
Shane Biggs
Andrejs Everitt (Carl)
Jesse White (Pies)
Jude Bolton(Retired)
Shane Mumford(GWS)

An interesting mix.
I reckon they are just getting some more run in the legs into ROK before the Pies game in 2 weeks.

[Ludwig]

And to think that Tippett, Goodes and AJ are not in either side!

[Matt80]

I had ROK as my sub in teams I made earlier in the week and most people thought that would not happen.

I think ROK still can offer a lot, but only in one position. He can only play as a tough inside midfield in hard scrum style games. He can use his strength, experience, tacking ability, game smarts and good hands in those battles.

When the ball moves outside of inside combat, he does not have the leg speed to be involved in attack or defence. This also means that you can't play him in attack because opponents will beat him to the ball and rebound against him in the open. Obviously he is still good in close combat roles in the forward line.

I hope there are some close fought combat style games this year so he can thrive, most famously in the 2012 GF, where he produced 15 tackles in close combat.

[ugg]

Don't think ROK is any slower than Jude in his final years. He could have assumed that role but for:
a) he didn't want to play as a permanent forward again; or
b) the interchange cap has meant we'll rest more midfielders up forward than before

[Auntie.Gerald]

ryans player profile for 2014

We hope in 2014 that he can maintain his consistency and be a leader on and off the field. We want him to really play the team game for us because the players look to that when we?ve got our key players, and in Ryan?s case, our second most experienced player, setting the tone.

[jono2707]

Good move to rest ROK this week and I think we'll see more resting of key players as the year progresses, injuries permitting. At the moment we also seem to be able to pick teams based on week-to-week matchups to a certain degree so hopefully we have a fresher squad at the business end of the season.